John O’Shea and Tom Charlton will not be represented in The Metropolitan by their initial top selection for the event, but they are keen to see another stable runner press its claims for a start this weekend.
The Randwick training team is eager for their lightly raced import Starzintheireyes to gain a start in the $300,000 Group 2 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) on his home track.
The import is yet to taste victory in four runs in Australia, but was an unlucky second when narrowly beaten by The Mona Lisa, and Charlton is bullish about his future.
“He’s been unfortunate not to win yet in Australia,” Charlton said.
“He’s got a load of class and it was a big performance (last start).”
“We’re pretty sweet on him and at some stage the penny will really drop.”
Starzintheireyes, a son of Starspangledbanner, arrived in Australia having won two of his five starts, including the Group 3 Zetland Stakes (2011m) at Newmarket.
The five-year-old had three starts in his first Australian preparation, recording a second placing over 1800m in benchmark 78 grade at Hawkesbury, a third in a BM88 over 2000m at Randwick, and a sixth placing over 2000m in BM100 company at Flemington on June 6.
He carries the second-lowest rating of the 19 entries for the Kingston Town Stakes, which is restricted to a field of 14, plus emergencies, but Charlton expects him to outrun his rating if he gains a start.
“If he ran well it could open the door of a Metrop,” he stated.
“But he’ll keep improving. He might end up in a nice race.”
The only Kingston Town entry ranked lower than Starzintheireyes is Aethelwulf, who is the favourite for the $750,000 Group 2 The Metropolitan on October 3, with entries headed by ATC Australian Derby winner Green Spaces. O’Shea and Charlton also have Athabascan entered.
King Pedro is not nominated after an elevated temperature ended his aspirations for a start in The Metropolitan, having last won the Grafton Cup, but Charlton remains hopeful of still seeing him back at the races at some stage this spring.
“We’re assessing him at the moment and perhaps where we can get to, but the Kingston Town is just going to come a little bit too quick,” he said.
The Kingston Town Stakes is one of four Group 2 races to be run at this Saturday’s Randwick meeting, which will be headlined by Autumn Glow’s appearance in the $1 million Seven Stakes (1600m).
Betting markets for the Kingston Town Stakes are now open at leading Australian betting sites.
